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Credit Cards

12 Best American Express Credit Cards of October 2026

UpdatedSeptember 21, 2026

At The Points Guy, our goal is to help you maximize your travel experiences while minimizing spending. While we do receive compensation through our credit card application links, ads and clearly indicated sponsored content, our editorial content, points valuations and card analyses are entirely our own. Learn more about our advertising policy and product review methodology.

Best for premium travel perks and digital entertainment

American Express Platinum Card®

American Express Platinum Card®

  • Intro offerAs High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
  • Annual fee$895
  • You'll earn5x
  • Regular APRSee Pay Over Time APR
at American Express's secure site.
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.

The best American Express credit cards have earned high marks thanks to their stellar rewards and perks. Amex offers a card for almost every type of spender, including credit cards for beginners, casual travelers, road warriors and always-on-the-go business travelers. Whether you’re looking for a no-annual-fee card, global airport lounge access, generous cash back in specific categories or premium access to events, Amex has a card to fit your needs.

Below, check out TPG’s picks for the best Amex cards from our partners to compare and decide which is right for you.

Comparing the best American Express credit cards

How we rate

We rated the best American Express credit cards based on several factors, including reward earning rates, perks and benefits associated with each card and the overall value each card delivers to you, the consumer. To learn about how TPG evaluates and chooses cards for our roundups, check out our methodology here.
  • Welcome bonus

    We included cards that featured solid welcome bonuses with varying minimum spend thresholds to fit different budgets.

  • Annual fee

    Our top picks feature varying annual fees to provide a larger range of benefits for cardholders.

  • Earning rates

    We chose Amex cards that feature popular bonus categories to help you maximize your rewards.

  • Redemption options

    The best cards provide you with different types of redemption options, including cash back.

  • Added benefits

    In addition to earning rates and lucrative welcome bonuses, our top picks also offer travel and insurance perks.

Here’s why American Express remains a fan-favorite issuer

Thanks to the myriad perks of being an Amex cardholder, the issuer has been able to offer a product suitable for every type of spender. 

Amex cards are so popular that 39% of TPG readers we surveyed shared that they simultaneously hold both the American Express Platinum Card® and the American Express® Gold Card.

Cardholders who are frequent travelers, prefer staying at a specific hotel chain or are loyal to a specific airline get to choose from several cobranded Amex products while those who prefer to earn straightforward cash back or points also have lots of great options to consider.

Amex card rewards include on-property credits at select hotels, travel credits when you book and pay for a flight with certain Amex cards and even dining credits at specific restaurants and on eligible takeout and delivery orders. Both the Amex Gold and Amex Platinum cards are great for foodies and travelers alike — and make an especially powerful combo for foodies who frequently fly, too!

This information was collected via opt-in surveys of TPG’s roughly 900,000 daily newsletter subscribers in May-June 2024. All data is anonymous and aggregated; you can view our full methodology for collecting and utilizing data here.

How to choose the best Amex credit card

The best Amex credit card for you depends on what you want your card to do; are you looking to earn cash back? Do you want transferable reward points? At TPG, we recommend choosing a card that matches your spending habits, including earning rewards in your top spending categories.

Here are some of the main points to consider when choosing an Amex credit card:

  • 1
    Welcome bonus

    Go with an Amex that features a decent Welcome bonus — you can use the reward you earn for future travel plans or to pay down a balance if you opt for a cash-back card. Select an option that has an achievable spend threshold and that you’ll earn the currency most valuable to you — whether it’s points, miles or cash back.

  • 2
    Annual fee

    While some of the Amex cards on our list feature high annual fees, they also offer stellar travel and shopping protections in addition to other benefits like credits in certain categories. We also included no annual fee cards for those who don’t want to worry about paying for a card each year.

  • 3
    Bonus categories

    The best Amex cards on this list feature several bonus categories, ensuring there’s a good fit for every type of consumer. If you want to earn rewards on grocery store purchases or flights booked through the Amex travel portal, it’s likely that one of our top-rated picks is well-suited to your specific needs.

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Pros + cons of American Express cards

  • Pros

    • American Express cards can earn points, miles or cash back on every dollar you spend, helping you maximize your reward-earning strategy
    • Many American Express cards offer valuable shopping and travel protections
    • Select American Express cards provide perks like statement credits, elite status and more
  • Cons

    • The cost of borrowing on Amex cards is higher than traditional loans
    • American Express may not be accepted by all merchants
    • American Express typically only allows you to earn one welcome bonus per card once in your lifetime

American Express benefits

  • American Express cards have long held a reputation for lucrative benefits, though the extent of these perks depends on the card you have.

Frequently asked questions

  • Is American Express a good credit card issuer?

    Yes, American Express is a reliable issuer that offers a variety of lucrative cards. This includes a number of great cash-back options as well as many that award Membership Rewards points, which are some of the most valuable transferable points out there.

  • How do you apply for an American Express credit card?

    To start an American Express application, you can click on any of the links in this guide and follow the onscreen prompts. Be prepared with your Social Security number along with all of your contact information.

  • Is American Express accepted everywhere?

    No, but the issuer has made strides in recent years. In fact, according to the February 2023 Nilson report, Amex is now accepted at 99% of U.S. merchants that take credit cards — putting it nearly even with networks like Visa and Mastercard.

  • What credit score do you need for an American Express card?

    There’s no single threshold to get approved for an American Express card, but most of them require good or excellent credit. However, even that may not be enough for a premium card like the the American Express Platinum Card®.

  • How many American Express cards can you have?

    Amex generally limits the number of personal cards you can have to five, though cards without preset spending limits* — like the American Express Platinum Card® and American Express® Gold Card — are typically excluded from this number, as are small-business Amex cards.

    However, that’s not a license to apply for new cards with abandon, since American Express will consider your history of opening and closing accounts when deciding on your approval. You can read more information in the Amex section of our guide to credit card application restrictions.

    *No Preset Spending Limit means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.

  • What is the best American Express card?

    There’s no one “best” American Express card for everyone. If you’re looking for more luxury when traveling, the American Express Platinum Card® could be a great fit. However, if you just want simple cash-back rewards, you may prefer a product like the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.

    Start by identifying the type of rewards you want — Membership Rewards points, airline miles, hotel points or cash back. Next, consider the types of purchases you make on a regular basis along with other benefits you value highly. Then, pick the card that offers your preferred rewards currency along with sufficiently lucrative benefits and earning rates based on your typical spending habits.